Stovetop Popcorn

I’m here for the snacks! Let’s get popping! If you’re wondering how to make popcorn at home in under 10 minutes, you’re in luck! Stovetop popcorn is a quick, easy and incredibly delicious snack! This movie-style popcorn is bound to elevate your next movie night or date night! It’s the snack that keeps on giving!

My stovetop popcorn recipe uses just 4 ingredients - popcorn kernels, avocado oil, salt and melted butter! It’s that simple! Making popcorn at home can seem daunting but I'm here show you just how easy it can be! Here are some simple tips and tricks to achieving the perfect pop:

1. The Type of Pot Matters: When cooking popcorn on the stove, a heavy-bottomed pot or saucepan is a must! Avoid thin-bottomed pots or saucepans as they conduct heat quickly, leading to an uneven cook and burnt ingredients. Thick or heavy-bottom pots or saucepans reign supreme given their ability to distribute and retain heat. Their thicker nature promotes a more even and consistent cook while also preventing the dreaded burning and scorching of the kernels and oil.

2. Turning Up the Heat: You might be tempted to turn up the heat to HIGH but stay the course! MEDIUM heat is the way to go when cooking popcorn on the stovetop! This temperature is ideal as it gently cooks the popcorn without running the risk of burning the kernels and oil.

3. Giving it Room to Breathe: During the cooking process, venting or leaving the lid of the pot ajar allows steam produced to escape, helping you achieve popcorn that is drier, soft yet crispy! Covering the pot traps the steam, yielding popcorn that is chewy and soggy. And, who wants soggy popcorn?!  

4. Shake, Shake, Shake: While the popcorn is cooking you want to give the pot a few shakes. The gentle movement of shaking the pot back and forth prevents the kernels from sticking to the bottom of the pot and burning; impedes steam from building between layers of popped kernels and redistributes any un-popped kernels closer to bottom of the pot, or heat source, to achieve a higher overall pop rate. Talk about more bang for your buck!

5. Pop, Pop, Pop: Once the popping slows from a continuous burst of popping to a pop every 1 – 2 seconds, you know your popcorn is ready. Remove the pot from the heat and carefully remove the lid.

   
   

Now that you’ve mastered the art of stovetop popcorn, it’s time to put your knowledge to good use! Pour that cooked popcorn into a large bowl and drizzle melted butter over top! Butter is optional here but, let’s be honest, butter makes everything better! Season the popcorn with a little more salt to taste, toss it and serve and enjoy!

Skip the store-bought or microwave varieties and make my stovetop popcorn tonight! It comes together in a single pot and couldn’t be easier to make! Happiness really is homemade popcorn! So, let me show you how it’s done. Grab a spoon and come and cook with me!

For more fun and exciting movie night snack ideas, try my Fully Loaded Nachos, Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars, Homemade Guacamole and Strawberry Crostini recipes!

Prep Time: 1 minute

Cook Time: 6 – 7 minutes

Total Time: 7 – 8 minutes

Serves: 4 - 6 (Makes 12 cups of popcorn)

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp avocado oil (See Notes below)

• 1/2 cup gluten-free or regular popcorn kernels

• ½ tsp kosher salt plus an additional 1/4 tsp or to taste

• 2 – 2 ½ Tbsp melted, unsalted butter (optional) (See Notes below)

Instructions:

1. Set a large (5L or 5.3 quart), heavy-bottomed pot or saucepan over medium heat. Add the oil and once hot, add the popcorn kernels and salt. To test the temperature of the oil and ensure that it's hot enough, simply tilt the pot slightly and watch the oil move. If the oil glistens, ripples and shimmers when moved, you're good to go!

2. Using a spoon or spatula, toss until the kernels are fully coated in oil. Then, cover the pot with a lid, leaving the lid slightly ajar.

3. Cook the popcorn kernels for a total of 5 - 6 minutes, removing the pot from the heat every 30 seconds and giving it a gentle shake. Repeat the process for the remainder of the cook time.

4. Once the popping slows from a continuous burst of popping to a pop every 1 – 2 seconds, remove the pot from the heat.

5. Carefully remove the lid and transfer the popcorn into a serving bowl. If using melted butter, drizzle it evenly over top, season with the remaining 1/4 tsp of salt (or to taste) and toss until fully incorporated. Serve and enjoy!

Notes:

1. Substituting the Avocado Oil: I love using avocado oil in this recipe given its neutral taste. However, you can substitute it on a 1:1 basis with coconut oil for a fruitier flavour profile. Either option works beautifully in this recipe!

2. Melting the Butter: Melting butter couldn’t be easier! You can use the microwave or stovetop to get the job done. When using the microwave, simply place 2 – 2 ½ Tbsp of butter into a small, microwave-safe bowl. Start with a 20 second cook time, check the butter and continue to heat in 10 second intervals until melted. When melting butter on the stovetop, place the butter into a small saucepan. Set the saucepan over medium-low heat and cook for approximately 1 minute or until melted. Pour the melted butter over the popcorn and serve and enjoy!